Faked (Ward Family #2)(70)

"Okay."

He smiled. "Just okay?"

My hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and I relished the heat of his skin coming through the material of his shirt. I only stopped when my palm was over his thudding heart. "Yeah. I don't think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ... I just need you to know that I'm in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too."

Bauer plucked my hand off his chest and pressed a fervent kiss into my palm. I wrapped my other arm around his waist, he slid his arm around my back and tugged me into his waiting embrace.

Everything settled into place, blissful warmth filling all those cold places that I'd not known existed until him. Whatever happened to bring this, him, into my life, I was so thankful, I could hardly think of a way to process it.

"I'm so in love with you, Claire," he whispered into my ear.

I squeezed him even more tightly, my forehead resting against the side of his neck as I breathed him in. "I love you too."

Bauer pulled back, his face split in a massive smile. "You really think we can do this?"

"I'd like to see who could stop us."

His chest rumbled with pleased laughter, and I wished we weren't surrounded by dozens of people. Half of whom were staring curiously at the little scene unfolding in the middle of the room.

Oblivious to anything but me, Bauer lowered his head and brushed his mouth once, twice over mine. The sound he emitted—from those two small kisses—gave me goosebumps. It was a hum of contentment, a growl of satisfaction, and I wanted to record it so that I could listen to it on a loop for the rest of my life.

Exerting pressure on the back of his head, I deepened the kiss, letting my tongue brush against his just once. I sighed into his mouth happily, which made him smile into the kiss.

"Do you want to get outta here?" I murmured against his lips.

Bauer pulled back and shook his head. "Look at you, ready to bail on the big party."

"Not bail," I explained, "maybe just ... leave early."

Bauer smiled. "Before you open your present?"

In his free hand, he was still clutching the small basket. I smiled. "What is it?"

"The reason I was late," he told me. "I thought it would be easier to find."

Brow furrowed, I release his waist to take the basket. It was small, with a small eye hook keeping the lid closed. Something moved inside, and I gave him a quick look.

He was grinning widely.

That was when I heard the teeniest, tiniest meow I'd ever heard in my life.

"You didn't," I breathed.

I couldn't open the basket fast enough. In my haste to get the latch undone, I almost dropped it. He took pity on me with a laugh and braced the bottom with one hand. Carefully, I lifted the lid, and the small patchwork face that popped out had me gasping in delight.

It had bright green eyes and brown ears, long white whiskers, and orange patches on its face.

The kitten mewed pitifully as I lifted it out of the basket and cradled it to my chest. "Oh, my goodness," I whispered. "Aren't you the most beautiful baby I've ever seen."

"You said you wanted one that looked just like Agnes," Bauer said. He smoothed a big hand over the top of its head. "But I had to make sure this one didn't hate me first."

"You got me a kitten," I said.

He shrugged, looking shy for the first time since he set eyes on me. "I'd give you anything you want, princess. Anything to make you smile like you are right now."

The cat pushed his head against my chin, and I laughed, so full of love, it didn't even seem fair.

"Just you," I told him.

"So, I can keep the cat with me in Whistler?"

I kissed its little head. "No."

He laughed loudly. "You're gonna have to name her."

"Ahh …" I glanced down at the little green-eyed face and grinned. "A girl, are you?"

Bauer scratched under her chin, and she meowed again.

"Belle," I said.

His answering smile was massive. "How'd you know?"

"Know what?" Belle licked my chin with her sandpaper tongue, and I laughed.

"My number one favorite Disney princess." His eyes twinkled mischievously. "Why do you think I started calling you that?"

He took my mouth in a slow sweet kiss, and when we pulled back, I felt the eyes on us.

"Should we go say hi?" he said.

I glanced over my shoulder. Lia was grinning like a dope, as was Finn. Next to them was Richard, who didn't look any less ecstatic.

"Richard didn't seem very surprised to see you," I mused out loud.

Bauer wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we started in their direction. "That's because he called me this morning."

"He did?"

He nodded. "Apparently, he thought we'd have more time to talk up at his place, which is why we never covered his reason for inviting me in the first place."

I stopped walking. "Why's that?"

Bauer lifted a chin in greeting at the man in question. "I guess he's the primary investor in an up-and-coming snowboarding manufacturer as of about two weeks ago."